Steering-wheel for autovehicles.



no. 848,140. PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907. Y

W. F. TOWNE.--

' STEERING WHEEL FOR A-UTOVBH IOL ESL 'APPLIOATION FILED NOV.8,-1'906.

, [War 3 T010718.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAMF. TOWNE, or Los ANGELEQ'CALIIFQRNIA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF To CHARLES R. SUMNER, or LOS'ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

STEEFHNG-WHEEL FOR AUTQVEHICLES.

. Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented. March 26, 1907.

- Application filed November 8, 1906. Serial No. 342,570-

a he especialobject of the invention is to provide means for firmly holding the wheel when it tends to turn violently, as when the automobile is running at a high speed and on a. more orless rough road.

- A further object of the invention is to provide such means in a convenienhsimple, and cheap form. v

In the accom anying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of one orm of the-invention. Fig; 2 is asection on line W Fig. 1.- Fig. .3 is aplan showing another form of the invention. Fig. 4 is a section thereof on line 00' m. .Fig.

5 'is a plan of another form of the invention.- Fig. 6 ma section on line 21: Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. .1 and 2, the steeringwheel comprises the usual hub 1, rim 2, and

s' eke 3, said-rim being preferably of wood.

.therein in the nature of scallops.

n the inner face of said rim, preferably around the complete circumference thereof, are provided finger-grip means, cfonsistim of notchesor indentations 4, formed-in sai inner face. This rim is preferably the usual wooden rim and is circular, these notches being formed simply by indentations In usingthe wheel the operator will in general grasp the wheel with his hands, mainly engaging the outer face; but in case of an emergency, such as in running on a rough road or at high s eed, where the wheel is subject to a'suden jar or joltdue to swerving of'the steeringwheels on striking an obstruction, the operator brings his fingers against the inner faces of the wheel, his fin ers then enga in in the indentations 4 to tig tly grip the w ee and hold the same from: slip ,ing. "the same time the palm-01 theihan restsagainsti-i 1 the smooth outer surface; offl therimftherebvgiving a-smooth round suriace to takethe pressure of the palnr'and enabling b11601 erator to use his hand in gripping to the best advantage. The scallo s or indentations preferably extend all tie way around the wheel, except at the spokes, so that whatever he the positionof the wheel good gripping action will be insured.

In some cases itmay be desirable to form the wheel, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, with an inner metallic rim member 6, secured to or cast with the spokes 3 and supporting the' Wooden outer rim or member 7, said inner rim member being formed wlth a circumferential groove 8,. in which the outer rim member engages. The outer rim member is be ut in place in the groove. The lndenlent strain on jolting ofthe wheels] Figs. 5 and 6 show another form of the inbuilt up in the usual manner, enabling it to 'tatl'ons 4 are in this case formed in the inner rim member 6, which serves to take the v1ovention, wherein the indentations 4 are formed in a supporting metallic arc-shaped member 9, inserted in a wooden outer rim 1 0,

which is'secured to the. spokes 3, as in Fig. 1,

the metallic are being fastened to the rim 10 byscrews 11. v

What I claim i's 1. A'steering-Wheel having arim with a smooth outersurface and an indentedinner surface for the pur ose set forth.

2. A steering-w eel having a rim with a smooth outer surface and an indented inner surface .to form a continuous finger-grip for turning the wheel.

' A steering-wheel having" a rim com I .posed of inner and outer members, the outer member bein supported in and by the inner member and avmg a smooth outer surface,-

and the inner member having an indented.

inner surface.

In'testimon'y whereof I have. hereunto set my hand, at Los Angeles, California, this 1st day-of November, 1906. I

g 4 WILLIAM F. TOWNE. In-presence of-- I AnTHUnP. KNIGHT,

FRANK L; A. GRAHAM. 

